While the Lisbon treaty was meant to clarify the European Union's role and political identity, it remains a challenge for politicians and decision-makers to define. Rethinking Democracy and the European Union looks at both the concept of the EU as a political system, and analyses the meaning and status of democracy in Europe today.

1. Introduction: Reconfiguring European Democracy Erik Oddvar Eriksen and John Erik Fossum 2. Europe's Challenge: Reconstituting Europe or Reconfiguring Democracy? Erik Oddvar Eriksen and John Erik Fossum 3. A Democratic Audit Framework Christopher Lord 4. Democracy and Constitution making in the European Union John Erik Fossum and Agustín José Menéndez 5. The European Union's Multilevel Parliamentary Field John Erik Fossum and Ben Crum 6. Gender, Justice and Democracy in the European Union Yvonne Galligan 7. Civil Society, Public Sphere and Democracy in the European Union Hans Jürg Trenz and Ulrike Liebert 8. From what is the patient suffering? Alternative Diagnoses and Democratic Remedies in the Foreign and Security Dimension Helene Sjursen 9. Democracy Reconstituting Democracy in Europe and Constituting the European Demos? Magdalena Góra, Zdzislaw Mach and Hans-Jörg Trenz 10. Cosmopolitanism in the European Union and Canada Compared John Erik Fossum 11. Conclusion Erik Oddvar Eriksen and John Erik Fossum

Erik O. Eriksen is Director and Professor at ARENA - Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo.

John Erik Fossum is Professor at ARENA - Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo.